The corona pandemic hits everyone right in the heart. This is also the opinion of representatives of the Lucerne hotel industry. But you go one step further. At a press conference on Thursday afternoon in the Schweizerhof in Lucerne, the Hotellerie Suisse Association explained that many other sectors are also dependent on occupied beds in hotels.
The decline in all overnight stays in 2020 is around 63 percent. Compared to the previous year, this is a horrific drop in visitor numbers. The President of Hotellerie Suisse, Andreas Züllig, is concerned: “The situation is extremely dramatic.” Tourism in Lucerne has never experienced such a collapse. But now there is only one thing left to do: “To survive.”
Some figures at a glance
–
Alessandro Pedrozetti, owner and hotelier of the Continental Park in Lucerne, explains that the hotel industry threatening to collapse is not only having a direct impact on the roughly 3,500 jobs in its own branch. Other sectors such as grocers, retailers, museums and organizers are also said to suffer from the decline in overnight stays. He makes it clear: “We urgently need help now so that the lights of our city of lights do not go out in the future.”
Swiss guests are not enough
The representatives of the hotel and business sectors were nevertheless able to name one positive point: “We were delighted to have so many guests from Switzerland this summer,” added Andreas Gonzales, President of the Business Association of the City of Lucerne. However, he emphasizes that the domestic guests are just a drop in the bucket. You couldn’t possibly balance the total number of visitors from the past few years.
Therefore, among other things, a financial aid program for the hotel and catering industry as well as binding and promptly implemented hardship regulations are required. Repayment of support loans should also be waived in cases of hardship. Waived? Yes, it said at the press conference. Because: The hoteliers are currently not sure whether these loans can be repaid within a period of time.
Quarantine rules need a revision
“The issuance of such guarantees is an issue that still has to be discussed politically,” Züllig mentions on request. The required loans should also remain interest-free over their entire term. Another requirement is that the canton and city should help in the marketing area in order to make the Lucerne region in Switzerland more attractive.
But those affected go one step further. They are calling on the federal government to adapt the quarantine rules that apply nationwide – with a relaxation, for example. This is because, for example, a recently available rapid test can prevent a person who tested negative from being placed under house arrest. “We are particularly concerned with the employees in the hotels. They fail more and more often without being sick with Corona, ”the conference continued
“Empty hotel beds threaten the existence of Lucerne’s diversity in terms of culture and events.”
Facebook post from the «Schweizerhof»
But what about the chances of success of such rather far-reaching demands? “The city of Lucerne is currently working on the 2030 tourism vision. So she almost has to respond to such support, ”explains Mike Hauser, co-owner of the Schweizerhof. Because – and all representatives agree – the hotel industry is systemically relevant.
Action on Schwanenplatz
Most of the demands were made public before the press conference. The Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne had already published this on Facebook in the late morning.
«Empty hotel beds are an existential threat to Lucerne’s diversity in terms of culture and events. Today we are fighting for support in the industry ”, it says in the post. Attention was drawn to the demands with an action with empty beds and posters on Schwanenplatz.
-
The Facebook post of the Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne. (Image: Facebook) -
The empty beds symbolize Lucerne events. (Photo: Mario Lütolf) -
The weather suits the mood of the hoteliers. (Photo: Mario Lütolf)
–
